SILESIA REGION INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

LOCATION

Location is a big advantage of the region . The small distance to the , , and the Slovak Republic as well as the fact that within 600 km one can find 6 European capitals i.e. , Prague, Bratislava, Vienna, Budapest and Berlin makes this region very attractive for investors and tourists.

Silesia is one of the smallest but most populated regions of .

big population and consumer market = 4.7 M inhabitant

80% of region’s population live in cities and towns

convenient and easy access via air, roads and rail

every third town in Poland is in the Silesia

SILESIAN AGGLOMERATION –

HEART OF THE REGION

This is the biggest urbanized area in the Central Europe. It consists of more than a dozen cities and several towns. The agglomeration area constitutes 18% of the whole region with the population density of 1900 people per sq. km. Over 2.2 million of people live here. The agglomeration area has got the densest road and railroad network.

ROAD ACCESS WARSAW

Distance from to:

Warsaw 290 km Gdańsk 525 km CRACOW Wrocław 190 km Cracow 80 km Ostrava 97 km Vienna 430 km VIENNA Berlin 620 km Prague 450 km

OSTRAVA The Silesian Region has got the densest network of dual carriageways and motorways. From west to east there is an A4 motorway and from north to south a new A1 motorway is being built.

AIRPORT

PL

The airport is situated approx. 30 kilometres north from Katowice. Not only the residents of the region use the services of this airport but also the residents of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic.

CZ

AIRPORT

It is the major regional and international polish airport in terms of cargo services and the 2nd biggest in terms of passenger traffic. RAILWAY

The region is crossed by The Railway Euroterminal in Sławków important domestic and (container transport) - direct international railway connection with intercontinental routes for passengers and Trans-Siberian Railway (Europe – Far combined transport. East Asia). HUMAN RESOURCES

The indicator of the high level of urbanization of the region is the fact that 77,6 % of the residents live in 71 cities what in turn means that every third big city in Poland is situated in the Silesian Region.

• 64,3 % of the population is within the economically productive age group

• 52,2 % of the population aged 25 to 60 years 4,7 mln

2,2 mln

4,7 mln EDUCATION

The Silesian Region is home to 45 higher schools, including 3 universities, 4 higher schools of technology, 14 higher schools of economy, 2 higher schools of pedagogy.

150 thous. students almost 9% of the whole group of students in Poland almost 10% of the whole group of graduates in Poland ECONOMY

The Silesian Region is the most industrialized region in Poland. 13% of the Polish gross domestic product (GDP) is being generated here what ranks the region on the second position within the country. Silesian’s GDP is higher than the national average.

The share of services in regional economy amounts to 60% and of industry comes to 32% what ranks the region in the first place in the country.

The Silesian Region is famous for its well developed automotive, metallurgical and mining industries as well as food, electromechanical and IT industries.

Over 426,000 national economy enttities are registered in the Silesian Region. ECONOMY

non-market agriculture, services forestry 12% 1% industry 32% The structure of gross domestic product (GDP) by type of activity

market services 48%

construction 7% ECONOMYREGIONAL EXPORT

Region’s share in the export value of Poland The main export destination’s countries: in 2012 – in mln PLN: - Germany; - Italy; exports total : - Czech Republic, Poland: 553 238 - France; Silesia: 89 354 - this amounts to 16,1 % - Great Britain.

The main products of silesian export:

- industrial machineries; - electric and electronic equipments; - vehicles and accesories; - iron and steel products; - coal and coke.

ECONOMY - AUTOMOTIVE

The region is the major car producer in the country. In 2013 about 404 000 cars (=70,3% in Poland) are being produced here, most of which is for export.

Mining and metallurgical industry, the traditional branches of the regional commerce, have been adjusted to the free market reality. BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT

In the region there are business support organizations, i.e. regional and local chambers of commerce and industry, development agencies, craftsman guilds, innovation centres, technological parks, consulting enterprise support centres, economic information centres and economic associations.

Regional of Commerce and Industry in Katowice (RIG)

Upper Silesian Agency for Regional Development (GARR)

Chamber of Crafts and Small and Medium Enterpreneurship in Katowice

Upper Silesian Agency of Promotion Enterpreneurship (GAPP)

Upper Silesian Fund

Silesian Investor and Exporter Assistance Center (COIE)

KBUSINESSATOWICE SPECIAL ENVIRONMENT ECONOMIC ZONE

Special Economic Zone (SEZ) is a perfect combination that satisfies the needs of investors with the needs of a particular region within the borders of which it has been established. Each zone is a special area within the borders of Poland assigned for business activity on preferential conditions. An investor within the area of the SEZ is guaranteed tax exemptions and another advantage is the fact that one may start his activities on specially prepared improved land. For 17 years of its activity over 200 companies have invested almost € 5 billion and have created over 50 000 jobs.

www.ksse.com.pl [email protected]

HELP FOR INVESTORS

Cities and institutions have a lot of activities to help investors:

investor assistance centers located in city halls; property tax exemptions offered by municipalities; trainings, reimbursement of equipment costs, individual trainings – from Poviat Labour Office; offer from the Katowice Special Economic Zone – exemptions in CIT tax; academic advising & career centres as teams of professionals who advise, counsel and coach students with their career development; developers – office market offer; HR companies – human resources offer; creating of public transport for investor’s employees; education offer – Complex of Silesian International Schools. INVESTMENT ATTRACTIVENESS

According to FDI Intelligence report, the Silesian Region is ranked 11th on the list of 20 regions, which in the first half of 2012 noticed the largest increase in investments inflow.

Silesia, compared with the 2012 year, reported a 45% increase in foreign investments.

Below the best 3 regions:

Kerala, India (+ 187% of projects), Minnesota, USA (+128 %), Queretaro, Mexico (+120%). Source: The Gdańsk Institute for Market Economics The leading position of the Silesian Region among Polish regions concerning investment attractiveness (industrial sector, service sector, technological sector).

Production sector: - automotive - industrial and transportation machines - electronics equipment - housekeeping equipment Service centres: - logistics - consulting - IT - BPO - SSC Interesting localisation for greenfield and brownfield (communes and towns).

Existing Katowice Special Economic Zone. HEALTH

Medicine on the national and international scale:

- Silesian Centre for Heart – Zabrze (hospital) & Katowice (clinic) (cardiologic and transplantation operations) - Silesian Centre for Oncology – Gliwice (hospital) & Katowice (clinic) (oncologic treatment, hematology and transplantation) -Silesian Centre for Burns – Siemianowice Śląskie (hospital) (burns treatment and post-burns rehabilitation) -Health resorts especially in Ustroń and Goczałkowice; (orthopedic and rheumatic rehabilitation, respiratory tract treatment, after-cancer treatment, also cardiological and neurological problems). TOURISM

The Silesian Region is one of the most touristically attractive areas in Poland.

The aura of the Polish Jura Chain and the Beskids is a guarantee that everyone will find their place of active leisure. Jurassic Highland Chain (Trail of the Eagles’ Nests) presents perfect conditions for rock climbing.

In the Beskid Śląski, where one can find over 200 kilometres of ski runs, every enthusiast of winter fun will find excellent conditions to enjoy winter attractions. On Pauline Monastery of Jasna Góra in Częstochowa is the heart of nation beats. Every year over 5 million people visits the sanctuary to see the famous icon of Black Madonna

Many historical castles and palaces with the beautiful parks and forests could be also destination of touring and leisure - for example in Pszczyna.

Brewery Museum in Tychy and in Żywiec are located directly by brewing production of the polish fairest beer.

THE INDUSTRIAL MONUMENTS ROUTE

The Industrial Monuments Route is the most interesting route of industrial tourism in Poland. The route encompasses 32 facilities connected with the industrial heritage of the region. These facilities remind the visitors about the old traditions of mining, metallurgy and energetics as well as about the old times of the railways, communications systems, water production and food industry.

CULTURE

The most important institutions and places:

Theatre of Silesia – Katowice (drama theatre) Silesian Opera – Bytom Musical Theatre – Gliwice (operetta, musical comedy) Theatre of Entertainment – Chorzów (variety theatre) Silesian Philharmonic – Katowice Polish National Radio Symphony Orchestra – Katowice Polish National Song and Dance Ensemble “Śląsk” – Koszęcin Silesian Museum – Katowice Silesian Library - Katowice

CULTURE

The Silesian Region is a place of grand cultural, sport and religious events. At the Silesian Stadium and in Spodek concert hall and sports venue the greatest artists took the stage. Among many Silesian Region hosted such artists as: U2, Genesis, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica and Pearl Jam.

Many festivals are organized in the region: Rawa Blues Festival which every year gathers thousands of blues fans and The Beskidy Highlanders’ Week of Culture, the oldest folklore event in Europe.

Additionally, one of the most interesting alternative music event i.e. Off Festival in Katowice has its home in the Silesian Region.

SILESIAN OVERVIEW

• 9th largest metropolis in Europe, conurbation consisting of 13 core cities and 13 surrounding

• More than 2.2 mln inhabitants living at Silesian Metropolis and over 4.7 mln in the region

• Located in the south of Poland, on the intersection of trans- european car and railway corridors

• Easy access to three international airports – Pyrzowice (30 km), Balice (70 km), Ostrawa (100 km)

• Groving market - generates 13% of Poland’s GDP, where more than 60% of which is provided in Silesian Metropolis

• Professionally skilled human resources and well developed business environment.